Prepper Food: Best Ones to Stockpile For Emergencies

A Guide On Stockpiling Prepper Food BEFORE A Real Emergency

Because the unprepared citizen will find themselves in the middle of a chaotic food store… Fearfully scrambling with other fragile souls… Risking EVERYTHING for a few scraps. But YOU can avoid such a fate…

TOPICS IN THIS GUIDE…    ↓(click to jump)

• Why My Grandparents Stockpiled
• The Aftermath Of A Catastrophe…
• Civility Vanishes With Food & Water
• More Technology = More Vulnerable
• What Our Ancestors Did…
• Best Prepper Foods For Stockpiling
• Difficult Food Decision: How Long?
• What About Freeze-Dried Foods?
• How To Build Your Own Stockpile
• Important Rules For Stockpiling
• Your Stockpiling Action Plan
• THE Best Investment You’ll Ever Make

Why My Grandparents Stockpiled

When I was a boy, and we ran out of peanut butter, my grandmother sent me downstairs to get another jar. Usually, there would be two more behind that one. She ALWAYS had months of food on hand.

I grew up assuming this was normal. Yet, as a young adult, I didn’t shop this way. After buying “BIG,” I might have two weeks of food on hand.

Never:

• 3 jars of peanut butter
• 8 eight cans of pork and beans
• or 10 loaves of frozen bread

I once asked my grandmother:

Why she always had so much food in the house.

Her answer was,

“Just In Case.”

Now middle-aged, with children of my own, I understand her answer. My grandparents grew up during the Great Depression. They saw our fragile economy collapse in 1929. They watched the market plummet, banks fold, and their entire way of life die.

↓ The Great Depression – Biggest Economic Crisis

During World War II, they experienced extreme rationing of:

• sugar
• gasoline
• and consumer goods

Of course, the war effort required sacrifice. And they constantly feared an Axis victory. When the war and rationing ended, they never stopped stockpiling. Not that long ago, my family relied on our local grocery stores.

We assumed we could pick up whatever we needed on a moment’s notice. I’d also drive around with my tank on empty. Knowing I could stop and get gas anytime I needed it.

The gauge on my grandfather’s old Buick? It never fell below half.

I used to rely solely on my utility company. Assuming gas and electricity would flow directly into my house.

These are all typical modern-day expectations. Citizens completely rely on others for basic survival. And assume the dollar will always be able to buy these goods and services.

• We assume money is as close at hand as the nearest ATM.
• And the value of the dollars will remain stable.

Both dangerous assumptions.

On September 11th, while New Yorkers were pulling together for the common good… What was the rest of the country doing? Sitting in their cars, in long lines, waiting to fill their tanks with $4.00 gasoline. Price gouging occurred nationwide. Some store owners saw a chance to capitalize on fear.

Luckily 9/11 was a one-day affair. No follow-up attacks occurred, and the price gouging didn’t spread. What if we had endured another day or two of massive attacks?

Want a free 78 item preppers checklist?

Imagine The Aftermath Of A Real Catastrophe…

Imagine a man whose family lives paycheck to paycheck. He suddenly finds himself standing in line at the local grocery. He’s got a single ten-dollar bill in hand and prices rise before his very eyes. He has maybe two days of food in the house and HAS to do something.

So he throws the ten dollars on the counter, overfills up his cart, and runs. A chain reaction starts, and mass looting begins. Followed by men carrying the only currency still honored firearms.

The store empties within hours and will not be restocked. Because what store owner wouldn’t board up the windows after his inventory is looted? Couldn’t happen, you say?

Just look at the looting that occurred after the Rodney King trial in Los Angeles. Or that occurred during Hurricane Katrina.

↓ 5 Things That Happen After An Economic Collapse

Want a free 78 item preppers checklist?

Civility Vanishes Along With Power, Water, And Food

Words on paper (even disaster response plans) cannot feed the masses, illuminate the dark, or purify water. The real value of their emergency plan was less than the paper it was printed on.

Relying on a faceless Federal Government to save us in times of disaster is a fool’s strategy. Even the most stable, civilized nation is only three days from anarchy.

Our constitution, our laws, and our public institutions are the framework that binds this nation together. However, when the power goes off, the water is polluted, and food becomes scarce… We are ALL divided, and divided; we fall.

↓ How to Survive the First 90 Days After the Collapse

Want a free 78 item preppers checklist?

More Technology = More Vulnerable

We rely on computers, electricity, petroleum, and vehicles. And if those technologies fail, our system breaks down. Nowadays, we expect others to pick up the pieces after a disaster. It’s not that we’re lazy. It’s just the way we’ve been conditioned that “Big Brother will rescue us.”

For most of us, disasters and our survival are in the hands of others. The City, the State, the National Guard, FEMA, the utility companies, etc.

Want a free 78 item preppers checklist?

What Our Ancestors Did

When our ancestors moved west to tame a new frontier, they took no government promises. But they did take horses, covered wagons, casks of water and food, rifles and ammunition for hunting and protection, axes for chopping wood, etc.

They provided for themselves and their communities, come hell or high water. We must recover some of that pioneer spirit. The desire to accept responsibility for ourselves, rather than expecting someone else to toe the line.

During times of crisis, the human condition can lead to behaviors as destructive as any terrorist’s bomb.

We laugh when Homeland Security gives us tips such as keeping water jugs on hand or fresh batteries in our flashlights. But it is no laughing matter when disaster strikes. The unprepared citizen will find himself in that grocery store line, amongst the looters, risking his life for scraps to keep his family alive.

We will have more power outages, earthquakes, tornados, hurricanes, and terrorist attacks. Now is the time to prepare, plan, and ensure our family’s survival. And yes, maybe those extra jars of peanut butter would be a good place to start.

Want a free family-first food planning guide?

Best Prepper Stockpiling Food List

After some quiet reflection, perhaps you’ve decided having some extra food around is not crazy. And it’s in your family’s best interest. Good for you!

• Which preppers foods?
• What other kinds of supplies?
• Just how big do you want your stockpile to be?

If you’re new to prepping, you may be excited by all this. But after the initial excitement, do you really want to invest in food that requires constant attention? One that takes rotation and occupies half your basement?

↓ 10 Best Survival Foods To Stockpile for Disaster

Want a free family-first food planning guide?

Difficult Stockpiling Decisions – How Long?

How long will your prepper food last? A week? A month? Three months? Six months? How about a year? Sure, a year’s worth may be overkill for most situations short of an apocalyptic event (i.e., TEOTWAWKI).

↓ America’s Biggest Threats In 2023+

However, maybe THAT’s what helps you sleep better at night. One can’t underestimate the value of a good night’s sleep.

What’s truly sad is the average U.S. family doesn’t even have at least one week of food.

This is just the nature of living in 21st Century America. One where the grocery store has replaced the basement pantry and the underground root cellar.

↓ The Surprising Reason People Live A Fragile Life

Most natural disasters will not require non perishable food beyond a few weeks or a month. You may want to stockpile for up to six months if you are talking:

• political upheaval
• revolution
• or some other Third World intrusion into our ordered American lifestyles

By that time, society should be regaining some semblance of order. However, if you think society will collapse into anarchy, you may want to stockpile for a year (or longer). One thing to remember is continuous anarchy is an unnatural vacuum.

Human politics abhor a vacuum.  Some group will fill the void. Perhaps it won’t be as altruistic as our current politicians (if you can imagine that).

Still, humans are pack animals and will band together. Society, in one form or another, will return. This means if you have a massive stockpile these “friendly” folks may relieve you of it. But let’s assume you decide on stockpiling food in the mid-range of options.

A six-month supply of food on hand at any given time for your family.

• So what foods should you stock?
• What  foods are stable in storage?
• What are human nutritional requirements?

Want a free 78 item preppers checklist?

Freeze-Dried Foods

For the serious prepper, purchase freeze-dried, prepackaged meals from a reputable emergency food supplier. These emergency meals are designed to meet your family’s basic nutritional needs. The best thing about this option is how fast and simple it is.

Just figure out the amount you need, order it online, find a good place to store it in your home, and sleep better at night. You can order a year’s worth today or buy a smaller amount over time; it’s up to you.

The Bottom Line:  Freeze-dried prepackaged survival food kits are the easiest, fastest, and foolproof way to build your survival pantry. Or, for those who prefer MRE meals, you could go that route.

Not my first choice but to each their own. Or you could invest in an at-home freeze dryer…

↓ How to Freeze Dry at Home

Want a free family-first food planning guide?

DIY Prepper Food

The human body needs fuel. Otherwise known as calories, namely: fat, protein, and carbohydrates. In the long run, the body also needs vitamins and minerals.

Your pantry staples should meet this requirement. But adding a couple of large bottles of a good daily multivitamin is a good insurance policy against scurvy. Your real concern is choosing shelf stable foods that are dense in calories, fats, proteins, and carbs.

Storing white rice and dried beans are good sources of carbs.

Foods spoil in the presence of bacteria, fungi, and mold, all of which require water. Many prepper foods are naturally preserved not by chemical preservatives but by their packaged moisture levels. Remember that microorganisms cannot grow without water.

Stored in a dry container inside Mylar bags, dried beans and rice will last for decades.

Furthermore, they’re easy to prepare.

Boil them in water until soft, and add a little salt or other dry seasonings. They even taste pretty good, especially when hungry. Another great source of fat, protein, and carbs is peanut butter.

Stored in sealed jars, peanut butter has very low moisture and very high oil and fat content, which prevents spoilage. It is also very calorie-dense.

You should learn how to make hardtack, which is a simple survival cracker that can last decades.

What about dried or smoked meats for protein?

Jerky, beef, chicken, or turkey will last a very long time and are a source of protein. Again due to good food packaging, low moisture, and high salt content. However, jerky is not high in calories or fat and is very expensive unless you make your own.

My personal favorite super survival food to make is pemmican. It’s dried meat mixed with tallow. If packaged properly, it can last several decades.

Here’s our step-by-step “How To Make Pemmican” guide. Or check out the below video for a quick overview:

This brings us to a whole other topic: food preservation. There are several good methods for preserving meats and fish: drying, smoking, and salt-curing; however, we’ll save those topics for another day.

How about canned or dried fruits?

Modern cans have a plastic coating inside, but the high acidity of many fruits can still cause the cans to corrode over time.

I’ve seen this phenomenon with applesauce. The fruits can still be eaten in an emergency but may taste metallic or rusty. However, if you are starving, you won’t even notice.

Just be aware – the grocery store prepper pantry method is not easy or simple. It takes a lot of time, energy, and dedication to doing it right. 

↓ How to Start a Prepper Food Pantry

Drink Mixes

Powdered milk, tang, etc. These are all great for long term storage.

So what about other prepper supplies?

Food won’t be my only concern if I’m preparing and stockpiling food for my family. Here are some others: aspirin, prepper antibiotics, bandages, prescription drugs, OTC cold/flu medicines, survival knives, tools, matches, and ammo, to name a few.

Some of these may already be included in your emergency survival kits – also a good idea.

Want a free 78 item preppers checklist?

Rules For Stockpiling

We don’t talk about our stockpiles with anyone. If you ignore this simple rule and share your stockpile with others outside your family, it’s great that you’re doing the good Christian thing. However, realize you are sacrificing your family’s security when you do.

Be prepared to lose it all if things go bad.

If your heart tells you that helping others is just as important as helping your loved ones, follow your heart, let your love light shine, and prepare to accept the consequences.

Want a free family-first food planning guide?

Prepper Food Action Plan

Step 1. Decide how many months of food you want in the case of an emergency.

This is a personal choice, and I cannot decide for you. However, if you’re a regular reader of this site, you know I believe our modern society is a fragile proposition at best.

I’m not sure in which form the ultimate catalyst will be but pick your poison: EMP (natural or coordinated), global financial meltdown, droughts, government tyranny, you name it…

The bottom line is: There are many possible disaster events, and if you add up the odds of one of them occurring in your lifetime, you become very motivated to prepare ASAP.

Step 2. Figure out how many calories your family needs daily to survive.

This one is relatively straightforward with the right tools – which we’re giving away for free – see below.

Want a free family-first food planning guide?

Step 3. Purchase the right amount of freeze dried foods from a reputable dealer.

I recommend buying from Valley Food Storage. Their prices are the best when factoring everything in, such as shipping, quality sealing/containers, and ingredients.

Plus, their products are tasty (my Valley Food Storage review post), and the food bucket containers are of high quality and easily stackable (making storage much easier and less intrusive).

Honestly, prepper food may be the best investment you’ll ever make for your family.

Even doubling the stock market value can’t protect you from starvation if society collapses and grocery stores go empty overnight. Stockpiles and survival gear are the only things to protect from that crisis level.

OR AN ALTERNATIVE – purchase your own freeze dryer!

Step 4. Store this food in a cool, dry location, secure location, and don’t tell anyone!

That’s it…4 easy steps that you can complete today.

Want a free 78 item preppers checklist?

Prepper Food: THE Best Investment You’ll Ever Make

I think stockpiling is THE BEST investment you can make. Why? Because the alternative (a.k.a. the downside) is too scary.

Unlike your typical dollar investment (where the worst-case downside is losing all your money), the downside we are talking about regarding a stockpiling food investment is your family starving.

But Jack, what if my food stockpile investment never pays off? Great, life continues as normal…enjoy! But I ask you, what if stockpiling food does pay off? Thank goodness you took action today.

Don’t wait; start right now because survival has no do-overs. You get to live on what you’ve stockpiled when all the grocery store food is gone.

Prepare, Adapt & Overcome,

P.s. - I just found out 2 out of 3 Americans don’t feel prepared for a 3 day disaster!!!

I guess this goes to show how modern society continues to embrace ‘living a fragile life.’ What’s crazy is… it’s so easy to fix.

To make sure YOU have the basics, watch our FREE training on “10 Simple Steps To Basic Preparedness” that shows you HOW.

Why You Can Trust Skilled Survival...

Go here now to review a full breakdown of:

Who We Are

Our Credentials

Our Mission

& Product Recommendations...

Here are a few highlights of our teams credentials & certifications:

• Certified Member of a Mountain Search & Rescue Organization
• Plant Emergency & Safety Leader for a Major Food Manufacturer
• Member of the 10TH Mountain Division Hut Association
• Certifications: Avalanche 1, WFR, CPR
• Official Gear Tester for Numerous Outdoor Gear Companies
• Countless Multiday Backpacking trips into Remote Wilderness
• Bachelor's Degree In Mechanical Engineering 
• Bachelor's Degree In Civil Engineering
• Bachelor's Degree In Biomedical Engineering

"It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it." - Warren Buffett

We're fully aware that trust is NOT something you GET but is EARNED.

And we'll continue to earn YOUR trust through our forthright and honest approach with each new Blog Post, Guide & Product we create...

Photo Credits Top / Barn / Tracks / MRE / Grocery

Get My 10 Steps To Basic Preparedness Video For FREE.

Plus daily survival tips (unsubscribe anytime).

Get The 10 Steps

Recommended Reading

Emergency Food Storage When Calories Become Scarce

Building your emergency food storage doesn't have to be complicated. We break things down into simple steps to help you do it right.

The Most Nutritious Survival Foods You’ll Actually Love

What are the best survival foods? It depends on your goals. We look at different scenarios to help you stockpile the best emergency foods.

Dehydrating Fruit: How To Preserve Sweet Calories

Dehydrating fruit is a great way to store tasty calories for long-term storage. We should you the best way to dehydrate some for emergencies.

Unique Food Storage Ideas: The Most Surprising Locations

Want a large emergency food stockpile but living in cramped quarters? Don't let this ruin your preparedness passion! Try these unique food storage ideas.

Valley Food Storage Review: An Expert Puts It To The Test

Unbiased and thorough Valley Food Storage review covering food supplies, packaging, taste, and shelf life. Don't buy without reading this...

Canned Food Shelf Life: A Shameless Lie For Big Profits

Are canned food shelf life expiration dates rooted in science? Here's all the proof you need to know it's a hoax in the name of profits.